Customer Reviews

Bob Roberts

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

"Bob Roberts," Tim Robbins' 1992 fictional account of the political campaign of a folk-singing conservative businessman, is a remarkable film. Echoing D.A. Pennebaker's 1966 documentary "Don't Look Back" (which covered Bob Dylan's 1965 U.K. tour; a number of scenes in "Bob Roberts" are cribbed directly from the Pennebaker film), "Bob Roberts" follows the title character (played by Robbins, who also directs and writes here) in his 1990 Senatorial campaign against Brickley Paiste, a once-vigorous, but now-weary and increasingly disenchanted New Frontier-era liberal democrat (played by author Gore Vidal). Roberts, who had made a fortune on Wall Street during the '80s, first gains national attention in the late '80s with a pair of critically panned, but commercially successful albums (clever homages to two early '60s Dylan albums) of right-wing country-folk songs. Using his musical fame as a springboard, Roberts embarks on his political career, backed by press aide Chet MacGregor (Ray Wise) and the shadowy Lukas Hart III (Alan Rickman, whose Mephistophelean presence almost steals the movie). Along the way, Roberts is tailed by journalist Bugs Raplin (Giancarlo Esposito), who is eventually framed for an assassination attempt on Roberts when he gets too close to uncovering Hart's and Roberts' shady involvement in both the Iran-Contra and S&L debacles of the '80s. Largely viewed at the time of its release as a broad slap at the New Right, in retrospect Robbins is nearly as critical of the Old Left. Vidal's Brickley Paiste is old, tired, and nearly irrelevant (and, sadly, seems to know it). If Robbins is scathing in his indictment of the Right, Paiste symbolizes Robbins' criticism of the Left for their lack of energy and ideas. Given the kind of pasting Democrats received in the '94 election, more of them would have done well to pay attention to Robbins' uncannily prescient warning. Cameos abound. Watch for the likes of Susan Sarandon, Helen Hunt, and others as reporters, as well as country singer Kelly Willis as Joan Baez to Robbins' Dylan. One final note: In a perfect example of life imitating art once again, "Bob Roberts" neatly foreshadowed R.J. Cutler and David Van Taylor's "A Perfect Candidate," a 1996 documentary of Oliver North's 1994 Virginia Senate campaign. Ironically, Cutler had been invited by North's handlers to film the campaign because they had liked his earlier documentary, "The War Room," on which Cutler had worked with - you guessed it - D.A. Pennebaker. Watch all three in chronological order someday if you have the time.

I saw this film when it first came out in '92, and thought it was okay, but rewatching it during the 2004 election season I was appalled by how many of the absurdities depicted had come true, with cynical pandering and manipulation at every turn. The only thing it's missing are voting machines that count backward! The title character, played by Tim Robbins (who also wrote and directed), is a right-wing folk singer pursuing a senate seat, running against an incumbent played by Gore Vidal. The songs and album covers are very funny, and there are many cameo appearances.

DVD extras include three commentary tracks, 22 minutes of deleted scenes, stills, 3 music videos, cast notes, production notes, a trailer and tv spots.

Worthwhile viewing, good extras.

By 1992, actor and leftist-liberal firebrand Tim Robbins had come a long way since his thankless role in the George Lucas uber-flop "Howard the Duck", and "Bob Roberts" displayed that the actor who had turned in fine performances in gritty movies like "The Player", "Jacob's Ladder", and---erm---"Erik the Viking" (he played Erik, and *I* liked it, anyway) had solid directorial chops, as well.

"Bob Roberts" is a gimlet-eyed little mockumentary chronicling the rise, fall and rise of merciless, villainous, Machiavellian and media-savvy politician Bob Roberts, who---as the film's opening sequence makes clear---is a man of many talents: former West Pointer, Wall Street trader and stock market guru, self-made millionaire, and right-wing folk singer.

Folk singer?

That's the clever little hook on which Robbins hangs his skillful little fusillade against mindless political partisanship: Roberts has appropriated the Rebel Prophet image crafted at Woodstock for himself, and---horrors!---for right-wing Republican politics. Roberts is an ingenious political animal, having picked up a guitar and made the transition from Woodstock to Wall Street---and now he wants Main Street.

The plot is simplicity itself: "Bob Roberts" is played with a straight face as the'documentary' of the 1992 Bob Roberts Pennsylvania senatorial campaign, produced and 'directed' by fictional documentarian Terry Manchester (played convincingly by veteran British actor Brian Murray).

Robbins, along with cinematographer Jean LePine (who worked with Robbins on "The Player), has captured the documentary feel---and shows a flair for music videos as well; the Roberts remake of an old Bob Dylan video (entitled "Wall Street Rap") is one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and continues Roberts's plunder of leftist icons: the last cue-cards Roberts tosses into the street read:

"Make...Money...by..any...Means...Necessary".

Robbins keeps up a taut and feverish MTV-like pace, charting Roberts's professional and political ride through interviews with parents, teachers, and friends, splicing them together with television appearances, interviews aboard the Roberts campaign bus (which doubles as a fully functional stock trading floor), and sequences from Roberts's folk concerts, where the candidate takes up his guitar and comes across as what might have happened had someone spliced Bob Dylan's genes with those of Rush Limbaugh.

That said, Robbins keeps the fun, intrigue, and political chicanery at a boil, and "Bob Roberts" is studded with famous faces all pulling off solid performances: Gore Vidal as the calcified liberal opponent, a young Jack Black as Bob's Number One Fan, Giancarlo Esposito as the tireless independent reporter digging for the truth, Alan Rickman as a scowling campaign supporter (and Black Ops mastermind) in dark glasses, Ray Wise as the gung-ho campaign manager, and Susan Sarandon, Fred Ward, and James Spader as clueless (and absolutely hysterical!) network TV anchors round out the C-SPAN-fueled goodness. <B

"Bob Roberts" occasionally stumbles: the sequence on the comedy-show "Cutting Edge" is just painful, and comes across as sour and false.

But that's a small complaint for the best 'mockumentary' since "This is Spinal Tap", and it's a nice antidote to the deadly serious, nasty real-life politics of our own combative age. Now if they'd just release the soundtrack...

I loved the wry, Republican-bashing in this film, but did it have to spell everything out in caps? We were quite aware of Bob Roberts' packaging concept without it having to be explained to us by various characters, especially so humorlessly. John Cusack's little lecture was especially patronizing.

Being spoon-fed a message only diminishes your enjoyment of a film, especially a satire. But I'm opposed to it on more than aesthetic grounds. Mainstream Americans hate liberals because they see us as elitist, condescending, and a little contemptuous of them. Heavy-handed films like this only reinforce that image.

As many reviewers have already pointed out this is a very smart and funny movie. Extremely well written, acted and directed, and very relevant in light of the recent "voting irregularities" and media manipulation during the 2000 Presidential election. I strongly recommend the DVD version, as it includes three separate feature length Audio Commentaries: The first done by actor/director/writer Tim Robbins in the early 1990s, the second is Tim Robbins and acclaimed author/actor/historian Gore Vidal recorded recently for the DVD edition, and the third audio commentary features editors of the Counterpunch Newsletter who give detailed information and insight into the Iran/Contra scandal and assorted other items routinely avoided by mainstream media. Definately worth watching several times.

The first writing/directing feature for Tim Robbins (The Player, Shawshank Redemption) is a biting 'mocumentary' on the functioning of American politics. Robbins plays Bob Roberts, a would-be senator, followed across the US by a British documentary crew during his campaign to be elected to Congress where he will ratify the use of US military forces in The Gulf. The problem is, Bob Roberts is a fanatic right-wing racist already renowned for his racially discriminatory folk music.

While many will be put off by the unconventional nature of the film, and American pride is sure to be wrangled by a lot of what this film says, 'Bob Roberts' is nevertheless a fantastic watch and a great predecessor to more successful films such as 'Primary Colors.' If you have any interest in the machinations of American domestic politics or racial discrimination then this is a film worth owning for repeat viewings.

This is a most important film I fisrt saw it in the cinema when it came out during the Bush/Clinton Campaign. A timely release. I have rented it several times after that and finally bought it from Amazon. I can't say enough good things about it!

I'm glad I did. Tim Robbins is remarkable. He has his finger on exactly what happens in the political arena in the United States. He assails the media and the political system in such a real way it is easy to believe it is a genuine documentary. Because it is so well done, it makes one shudder to see so much truth portrayed and illustrated in one two hour sitting.

Very entertaining yet great for any University level Poli-Sci course and any film course. Tim Robbins wrote it and apparently all of the songs too. Listen carefully to the lyrics. Tim Robbins illustrates what is truly being said by many Americans in an un-subtle way, yet so many Americans dont seem to hear it!

Again, an important, yet disturbing film. A must see for every American and member of any "Democracy." If there really is such a thing!

This movie starts off strong as a parody of politics in general, and conservative politics in particular. It does a good job in its parody role, too.

Unfortunately, the latter part of the film gets into uber-conspiracy theories linking all of the great scandals of the Reagan-Bush years into one massive plot. I'm unsure if Robbins meant for the film imply that there was such a great linkage, but, considering its very political nature, I must suspect he does feel that there is truth behind his fictional accusations. And I've grown quite tired of claims of massive government conspiracy.

So ultimately, I'd say this is worth watching, but should be taken with a grain of salt.

I am amazed that so few people appreciate or notice that Robbins skewers more than Republicans in this one! Has no one still alive seen "Dont Look Back", the documentary of Bob Dylan's 1965 English tour? "Bob Roberts" is a deft satire of "Dont Look Back" and the phenomenon of knee-jerk hero worship, whatever it's political pretensions. Rent "Dont Look Back" and this film at the same time, and watch this one second...I think you'll agree that this film has more complexity than most of it's reviewers have managed to notice.

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In this pseudo-documentary (think "This Is Spinal Tap"), Tim Robbins plays a Republican candidate for the U.S. senate. Bob Roberts doesn't suggest platforms or programs, so much as just express feelings. And, because he's a folk singer of conservative songs (such as "The Times Are Changin' Back"), he doesn't give speeches -- at any time -- so much as sing songs in political concerts. So his candidacy is largely sheltered from close scrutiny. Despite the time period being an era when incumbents almost always win, Roberts makes it close against his Democratic incumbent opponent, played by Gore Vidal. Vidal's character is hampered by allegations, and the whole thing is a funny, ironic roller coaster.

In his screenplay, Robbins introduces hard questions about political corruption, the military industry, and the demonizing of world leaders in order to support military funding. Today, this is reminiscent of President Bush's "axes of evil" declaration, and the politics may anger some (especially since Saddam Hussein is repeatedly shown as the Evil of the Day). But if you can set that aside, I think you can enjoy this political satire for all that it accomplishes.

A special treat is the myriad actors who float by the screen - - you'll have a lot of fun there, just as you might have enjoyed in "This Is Spinal Tap." In addition to all those who are in the credits (and the list is long!), I think I -also- saw Broadway actor Chip Zein (the Baker from the original "Into The Woods") with a brief line in a crowd scene towards the end. But there are perhaps a good dozen others you'll recognize from other movies (I was about to list them, but stopped in order to maintain some surprise for you).

My one reservation, and it's considerable, is that I think the sound needs to be re-mixed. A number of funny side conversations are lost, and you need to skip back and crank up the volume. This, of course, breaks up the continuity.

Extras include commentary by Robbins and Vidal.